Package



Nov. 8, 1938. VB. J. GOLDSMITH PACKAGE Filed Feb. 5,- 1957 SSheets-Shet1 INVENTOR .BER TRfiN LlbLpM/7w.

ATTORNEY gig Nov. 8, 1938." B. J. GOLDSMITH PACKAGE Filed Feb. 3, 1937 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR qLpsnl f.

.851: ram-q d.

ATTORNEY NW. s, 1938. B J GOLDSMITH 2,136,,07

PACKAGE Filed Feb, 3, 19.57 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 [NVENTOR .852! TR HM d. (7OLDSM/TH, BY Z ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT,OFFICE PACKAGE Bertram J. Goldsmith, New York, N. Y. ApplicationFebruary 3, 1937, Serial No. 123,877

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to packages of narrow ware and in its morespecific aspects is concerned with the packaging of ribbons, tapes,bindings, photographic and other films, wire, etc.

One object of. the present invention is to package a length of materialarranged in the form of a winding within a container in such manner thatthe material of the winding may be progressively withdrawn from thecontainer substantially without twist.

In accordance with one form of the present invention, a length of narrowware, for example, a length of ribbon is arranged in the form of a woundmass comprising a plurality of groups of 1 convolutions, said groupsbeing axially displaced and portions of the length of the materialcrossing each other at an intermediate point. The arrangement is suchthat the length of material is unwound by withdrawing the innermost endthereof at said intermediate point opposite the crossed portions and ina direction away therefrom. This results in the successive unwinding ofalternate convolutions in said groups, and as each convolution unwinds,the material is twisted somewhat in one direction for one convolution ofone group and in an opposite direction for the next convolution of theother group with the result that the twists neutralize each other in alength of material corresponding substantially to successiveconvolutions of different groups with the result that the unwoundportion of the material is wholly or substantially free from twist. Thematerial thus arranged in groups of convolutions is disposed in acontainer having an opening through which the innermost end of thelength of material may be progressively withdrawn in dispensing thematerial.

While the material is being withdrawn from the container, theconvolutions in the different groups have a tendency to be displacedfrom their respective groups out of their regular order and to movetoward and through the opening in the container together with theinnermost end as the latter is being withdrawn with the result that theconvolutions may be withdrawn through the opening out of their regularorder causing the material to become tangled, thereby preventing the,withdrawal of the material in the form of a non-twisted length. It is,therefore, an object of this invention to obviate this difficulty andfor that purpose to provide for the withdrawal of the convolutions ofeach group in the proper sequence necessary to provide a length ofnontwisted material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a package of material inthe form of a winding of the above character with means for maintainingthe convolutions in proper relative position within the container at alltimes thereby preventing the groups of convolutions and the convolutionsin each group from being displaced with respect to each other, whichmight otherwise occur especially during shipment and handling of thepackages.

The above objects of the invention and other objects which mighthereinafter appear will best be understood from the followingdescription considered with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a package embodying the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the winding of the material before it isin the container;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 are side views of a length of material Wound on atemporary support,illustrating more or less diagrammatically the mannerin which the Winding is formed;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the means associated with the containerfor maintaining the groups of convolutions in proper position in thecontainer and providing for the withdrawal of the convolutions in propersequence;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a blank of material out of which the meansshown in Fig. 7 is formed;

Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing another form of the presentinvention; v

I0|fl of Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line I ll l of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line lZ-IZ of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing another form of theinvention;

Fig, 14 is a plan view of the package illustrated in Fig. 13 with thetop of the container removed for the purpose of illustration;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the container shown in Fig. 13, withthe top of the container removed.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown a package Illcomprising a container l2 in the form of a box made of any suitablematerial, preferably cardboard or stiff paper, and having disposedtherein a winding I4 of the material to be dispensed from said containerfor which purpose the latter is provided with an opening I6. Forconvenience in reference in the description, the material of the windingI4 will hereinafter be referred to as ribbon, but it will be understoodthat the package may contain any material which when arranged in theform of a winding has a tendency to become twisted when withdrawn fromthe winding, unless special pre cautions are taken to prevent twisting.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the winding I4 comprises a plurality of,here shown as two, groups I5 and ll of convolutions of the ribbon web,said groups being axially displaced and alternate portions of the webcrossing each other at an intermediate point I8. Figs. 5 and 6, thisribbon formation is. produced by winding the web on a suitable support23 such as a rectangular card. As shown in Fig. 5, in starting thewinding, an end portion of the web is wound about the support 20producing one turn or convolution 22 of one of the groups ofconvolutions, and the following portion of the web beyond the first turnis continued crossing over the free end portion 24 of said first turnand then wound about the support forming the first turn 26 of the othergroup of convolutions, the continuing portion of the web being directedover the intermediate or crossover point I8 for producing the secondturn 23 of the first mentioned group of convolutions and then over theintermediate point I8 for producing the second turn 30 of the secondgroup of convolutions. This method of winding is continued until thedesired number of convolutions is obtained, after which the winding isremoved from the support 29 and as indicated will be in the formillustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. It will be observed that the leading end24 of the web will be disposed interiorly of the winding. The other webend 32 will be positioned on the outside of the web and may betemporarily secured in position in any suitable manner, as for exampleby adhesive or by a pin. However, when the winding I4 is disposed withinthe container I2, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the end 32 is preferablysecured to the bottom of the container in any suitable manner as by apiece of adhesive tape 33.

When it is desired to unwind the web or a portion thereof, the leadingend 24 is withdrawn from the winding centrally of. the groups ofconvolutions in a direction away from the crossed intermediate webportions and through the container opening I6. This results in thesuccessive unwinding of alternate convolutions in said groups, and aseach convolution unwinds, the ribbon is twisted somewhat in onedirection for one convolution of one group and in an opposite directionfor the next convolution of the other group with the result that thetwists neutralize each other in a length of the ribbon correspondingsubstantially to two successive convolutions of different groups and theunwound portion of the web withdrawn from the container I2 is wholly orsubstantially free from twist. It will be noticed that while the ribbonis dispensed from the container without twist the winding as a wholeremains stationary and it is unnecessary as heretofore to mount theWinding on a rotatable core or support for dispensing the material froma winding without twist.

In accordance with the present invention, provision is made formaintaining the convolutions I5 and IT in proper relation .to each otherwithin the container I2 and provision is also made for As illustrated inpermitting only the leading end 24 of each successive convolution ofalternate groups to be withdrawn through the container opening I6. Forthis purpose there is utilized, in the form of the invention illustratedin Figs. 1 and 2, a member 36 made of any suitable sheet materialpreferably cardboard or stiff paper. Said member comprises spacedconfronting walls 38, each having a relatively large bottom recess 40and a relatively small recess 42 which is continuous with the recess 40and positioned thereabove. The walls 30 are connected at their lowerends by bottom portions 44, one at each end of the member 36.

Upper horizontal portions 46, which as here shown are formed integralwith the walls 38, project in opposite directions one from each wall,respectively. Spacing tabs 48 struck out from the walls 38 at the upperends thereof project inwardly toward the wall opposite that from whichsaid member is struck out. In Fig. 8 there is illustrated the blank fromwhich the member 36 is formed, the several parts of said member beingindicated on said blank by the same reference characters, the dot anddash lines indicating lines of fold,

The member 36 is disposed within the con tainer I 2 centrally thereofwith the walls 38 extending between and engaging side walls of thecontainer and disposed at opposite sides of the opening I6. Said wallsalso extend from the inner surface of the bottom of the container whichis engaged by the bottom end portion 44 to the inner surface of the topof the container which is engaged by the top portions 43, the latteralso extending to the container side walls 50 which hold the walls 38against movement away from each other while the spacing tabs 48 limitthe movement of the walls 38 toward each other. As thus positioned,cut-outs 40 in the walls 38 overlie the adjacent portions of the ribbonconvolutions and the cut-out portion 42 overlies the portions adjacentthe intermediate point I8 and serves as a guide for the leading end 24of the innermost convolution of each group as the latter is withdrawnthrough the container opening I6. As thus constructed and arranged, themember 36, and more particularly, the walls 38 thereof serve to hold theconvolution groups I5 and I1 apart thereby preventing the convolutionsof one group from tangling with the convolutions of the other group.Said member 36 also prevents the convolutions from passing into thespace between the walls'38, except as each of said con- 7 volutions isunwound in regular order, or in other words, said member permits onlythe innermost convolutions to pass in regular order into the spacebetween walls 38 and from said space through the container opening I6.

Under certain conditions, and in connection particularly with certaintypes of material Where the tendency of the latter to move out of thecontainer opening during the dispensing of the ribbon is negligible, itis ordinarily sufficient merely to provide the container with means tomaintain the groups of convolutions in proper position during theshipment of the ribbon package. Thus, in the form of the inventionillustrated in Figs. 9 to 12, there is provided a spacer member 52 whichprojects through an elongated opening 54 in the top of the container inposition between the convolutions I5 and I! of the ribbon winding. Themember 52 is provided with a top wall 56 which normally covers thecontainer opening 54. Said member is made of any suitable materialpreferably cardboard and has side walls 58 which are provided adjacenttheir upper endswith tongue portions 60 adapted to engage under the topof the container adjacent the ends of the opening 54. whereby toreleasably hold the member 52 in position within the con-' tainer. Saidmember 52 thus also constitutes a closure for opening 54. When it isdesired to dispense the material from the container, the member 52 isremoved and the leading end of the innermost convolution is drawnthrough the container opening 54 in the manner described above inconnection with the package shown in Fig. 1.

In accordance with another form of themesent invention illustrated inFigs. 13 to 15, the means for positioning the groups of convolutions inthe container comprises a pair of wedgelike members 62. As best shown inFigs. 14 and 15, each of said wedged members, which are preferablyformed of cardboard, are provided with end portions 64 which may besecured to the side walls of the container in any suitable manner, as byan adhesive. Said members 62 extend from the inner surface of the bottomof the container to the inner surface of the container top and projecttoward the center ,or cross-over point I8 of the groups l5 and I! of thewinding convolutions and in this manner serve to maintain said groups ofconvolutions in proper position within the container.

Thus it is seen that the construction herein shown or described is welladapted to accomplish the several objects of the present invention. Itwill be understood, however, that the invention maybe embodied otherwisethan as here shown,

and that in the several constructions disclosed certain changes in theform and arrangement of parts may be made. Therefore, I do not wish tobe limited precisely to any of the embodiments herein disclosed, exceptas may be required by the appended claims.

=- the material,.a length of material arranged within saidcontainer intheform of a Wound mass comprising a plurality of continuousconvolutions arranged in axially displaced groups with intermediateportions of the length of material crossing each other at a pointbetween two groups of said convolutions whereby successive portions ofthe length of material can be withdrawn from the Wound mass at a pointopposite said crossed portions and through said container opening, andmeans for maintaining said. groups of convolutions in said axiallydisplaced relation.

2. A package of material comprising a container provided with an openingfor dispensing the material, a length of material arranged within saidcontainer in the form of a wound mass comprising a plurality ofcontinuous convolutions arranged in axially displaced groups withintermediate portions of the length of material crossing each other at apoint between two groups of said convolutions whereby successiveportions of the length of material can be withdrawn from the Wound massat a point opposite said crossed portions and through said containeropening, the material in one group of convolutions having edges whichconfront the edges of the material in another of said group ofconvolutions, and means extending between said confronting edges of thematerial of said groups portions and through said container opening, and

means extending between said groups of convolutions for maintaining themin said axially.

displaced relation, said meanshaving an opening through which thesuccessive portions of the length of material pass as they are withdrawnfrom said groups of convolutions.

4. A package of materialcomprising a container provided with an openingfor dispensing the materiaL'a length of material arranged within saidcontainer in the form of a wound mass comprising a plurality ofcontinuous convolutions. arranged in axially displaced groups withintermediate portions of the length of material crossing each other at apoint between two groups of said convolutions whereby successiveportions of the length of material can be withdrawn from the wound massat a point opposite saidcrossed portions and through said containeropening, and means disposed between said groups of convolutions having arestricted opening therein through which successive portions of thelength of material can pass as they are withdrawn from the mass throughsaid container opening.

5. A package of material comprising a container provided with an openingfor dispensing the material, a length of material arranged within saidcontainer in the form of a wound mass comprising a plurality ofcontinuous convolutions arranged in axially displaced groups withintermediate portions of the length of material crossing each other at apoint between two groups of said convolutions whereby successiveportions or the length of material can be withdrawn from the wound massat a point opposite said crossed portions and through said containeropening, and means to maintain said convolutions spaced from saidcontainer opening whereby only successive portions of the length ofmaterial which are withdrawn from the mass in regular order can bewithdrawn throughsaid container opening.

6. A package of material comprising a container provided with an openingfor dispensing the material, a length of material arranged within saidcontainer in the form of a wound mass comprising a plurality ofcontinuous convolu tions arranged in axially displaced groups withintermediate portions of the length of material crossing each other at apoint between two groups 7 successive portions of the length of materialpassthe wound mass at a point opposite said crossed portions and throughsaid container opening, and means comprising spaced walls extending oversaid intermediate portions and defining a space within said containerbetween said groups of convolutions, said container openingbeing incommunication with said space, each group of convolutions beingmaintained spaced from said container opening by one of said walls, andan opening in each of said walls through which the successive portionsof the length of material passes as they are withdrawn from said massand through said container opening.

8. A package of material comprising a container provided with an openingfor dispensing the material, a length of material arranged within saidcontainer in the form of a wound mass comprising a plurality ofcontinuous convolutions arranged in axially displaced groups withintermediate portions of the length of material crossing each other at apoint between two groups of said convolutions whereby successiveportions of the length of material can be withdrawn from the wound massat a point opposite said crossed portions and through said containeropening, and means projecting through said container opening andextending between said groups of convolutions for maintaining them insaid axially displaced relation.

9. A package of material comprising a container provided with an openingfor dispensing the material, a length of material arranged within saidcontainer in the form of a wound mass comprising a plurality ofcontinuous convolutions arranged in axially displaced groups withintermediate portions of the length of material crossing each other at apoint between two groups of said convolutions whereby successiveportions of the length'of material can be withdrawn from the wound massat a point opposite said crossed portions and through said containeropening, and means projecting through said container opening andextending between said groups of convolutions for maintaining them insaid axially displaced relation, said means constituting a closure forsaid opening and being removable therefrom to permit the withdrawal ofsaid material.

10. A package of material comprising a container provided with anopening for dispensing the material, a length of material arranged within said container in the form of a wound mass comprising a plurality ofcontinuous convolutions arranged in axially displaced groups withintermediate portions of the length of material crossing each other at apoint between two groups of said convolutions whereby successiveportions of the length of material can be withdrawn from the wound massat a point opposite said crossed portions and through said containeropening, and means projecting from opposite side walls of the containerand positioned between said groups of convolutions for maintaining themin said axially displaced relation.

11. A package of material comprising a container provided with anopening for dispensing the material, a length of material arrangedwithin said container in the form of a wound mass comprising a pluralityof continuous convolutions arranged in axially displaced groups withintermediate portions of the length of material crossing each other at apoint between two groups of said convolutions whereby successiveportions of the length of material can be withdrawn from the wound massat a point opposite said crossed portions and through said containeropening, and wedge-like members having their wider ends secured to sidewalls of the container and positioned between said groups ofconvolutions for maintaining them in said axially displaced relation.

BERTRAM J. GOLDSMITH.

